Columbus Celebrates National Recognition for Public by Design and First Christian Church Tower Restoration
Community event to honor two national awards
Columbus, Indiana — Landmark Columbus Foundation will host a public celebration on November 19, 2025, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in downtown Columbus to share two recent honors with the community.
Exhibit Columbus’ 2022–23 cycle Public by Design received the Public Art HONOR distinction at the Indy Chamber’s 2025 Monumental Awards, which recognize projects that elevate the built environment across central Indiana.
The restoration of the First Christian Church clock tower earned a Civic/Institutional Design Citation of Merit at the 2025 Modernism in America Awards presented by Docomomo US. The jury commended the meticulous restoration, noting that the project addressed water infiltration and structural movement, replicated original masonry details, and extended the life of an iconic National Historic Landmark. Jury chair Donna Robertson praised the effort as a “painstaking project to stabilize a particularly iconic structure,” highlighting the sophisticated preservation science involved.
Mayor Mary Ferdon will join Landmark Columbus Foundation leadership, project partners, and community members to celebrate these achievements. Also, leadership from Louis Joyner Architect, First Christian Church, and project partners will commemorate the Docomomo US Award.
Both awards demonstrate how community-driven design and progressive preservation efforts are bringing national attention to Columbus’ future and cultural heritage.
Public by Design: A community-driven exhibition that became a Monumental Award honoree
Exhibit Columbus’ Public by Design was a two‑year process beginning with a symposium, followed by design presentations, and culminating in a free exhibition. The program was built on Columbus’ modern legacy by inviting collaborations between residents and designers to reimagine downtown as an equitable, beautiful, and joyful place. Rather than treating artworks as static objects, Public by Design choreographed dynamic interactions; installations served as tools for togetherness, enabling new ways of gathering, playing, and co‑creating. The 2023 exhibition featured temporary installations throughout downtown that served as prototypes for permanent change, with curatorial partners Paola Aguirre, Chris Merritt, Lauren M. Pacheco, Bryony Roberts, Raymund Ryan, and Holly Warren.
The Indy Chamber’s Monumental Awards celebrate projects and people that advance the built environment in central Indiana. At the 48th awards ceremony, winners spanned architecture, construction, engineering, innovative reuse, interior design, landscape architecture, neighborhood revitalization, public art, and real‑estate development. Public by Design received the HONORdistinction in the Public Art category, affirming the project’s innovative approach to community engagement and design excellence.
First Christian Church Tower restoration: Safeguarding a modern landmark
Designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen and completed in 1942, the First Christian Church is among the earliest modern churches in the United States. The tower, a 166-foot masonry structure, had suffered from water infiltration, movement, and decades of patchwork repairs. The restoration team undertook extensive reconstruction of the upper portion of the tower, removed and reinstalled delaminating brick, and stained new masonry to match the originals. Their commitment to preserving the Saarinens’ design while stabilizing the structure earned praise from the Modernism in America Awards jury. Jury member Dung Ngo called the restoration “outstanding”, and jury chair Donna Robertson noted that the preservation science applied to this “particularly iconic structure” is highly appreciated.
“Columbus continues to demonstrate that design excellence and progressive preservation go hand in hand,” said Richard McCoy, Executive Director of the Landmark Columbus Foundation. “The Indy Chamber’s recognition of Public by Design celebrates our community’s collaborative spirit, while Docomomo US’s citation for the First Christian Church tower acknowledges the craftsmanship and care invested in preserving our modern heritage. We’re thrilled to share these honors with the people of Columbus and look forward to celebrating together on November 19.”
Media advisory: Please join us on Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m. for this celebration. For details or to RSVP, contact Abigail Flout at abigal@landmarkcolumbus.org.
Media
For press, visit this link to download assets and photography for the Exhibit Columbus 2023 Exhibition, Public by Design, and First Christian Church Tower Restoration. To view the Monumental Awards highlight video, watch here.
Media Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
About Landmark Columbus Foundation
Landmark Columbus Foundation (LCF) cares for, celebrates, and advances the cultural heritage of Columbus, Indiana. To fulfill its mission, LCF directs three locally engaged and globally connected programs that are interwoven in their impact and networks: Progressive Preservation, Exhibit Columbus, and Columbus Design Institute. landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org
About Exhibit Columbus
Exhibit Columbus is a feature program of Landmark Columbus Foundation and an exploration of community, architecture, art, and design that activates the modern legacy of Columbus, Indiana. It creates a cycle of programming that uses this context to convene conversations around innovative ideas and commissions site-responsive installations in a free public exhibition. exhibitcolumbus.org
About Monumental Awards
Monumental Awards are presented annually by the Indy Chamber to honor projects and people that contribute to the excellence of the built environment in central Indiana. The awards recognize achievements across multiple categories, promoting innovation, design excellence, and community growth.
About Modernism in America Awards
Modernism in America Awards, organized by Docomomo US, celebrate the documentation, preservation, and reuse of modern buildings and landscapes across the United States. The awards recognize owners, design teams, and preservation organizations whose work demonstrates that thoughtful restoration can retain and reinterpret the cultural and aesthetic value of modernism.
Image: Landmark Columbus Foundation staff and Board Chair (Left to right: Hadley Fruits, Mark Elwood, Kate Powers, Richard McCoy, Jamie Goldsborough, and Abigail Flout) receiving the Monumental Award.
